More Tropical Trouble for the Philippines This Week

While many across the southern and central Philippines are still recovering from rounds of heavy rainfall this month, another tropical disturbance arrive later this week.

Rains from former Tropical Storm Lingling, combined with the local monsoon, resulted in torrential rainfall, totaling more than 1220 mm (48 inches) in some parts of eastern Mindanao.

This event affected more than one million people, killing at least 64 people with more still missing according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center of the Philippines.

Even though rainfall has been much lighter across the region over the past several days, more than 100,000 people are still displaced from their homes.

As people attempt to return to their homes and rebuild as necessary, another threat looms on the horizon.

A large area of showers and thunderstorms, currently just south of Guam, will track westward this week and reach the Philippines by Friday or Saturday.

The heaviest rainfall is expected to occur over the areas that are still recovering from the recent flooding.

New rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is expected with local amounts over 300 mm (12 inches). This amount of rainfall across the southern and central Philippines can quickly lead to widespread flooding, while hindering recovery efforts across the region.

Unlike the last tropical feature to impact the region, this one is expected to continue on a westward track which will generally the heaviest rainfall to a 24-hour time period, instead of occurring for several days in a row.